You might not know it from looking at the games I've played since I've started by Backloggd account, but I actually really like beat 'em ups, and that's where Sonic Unleashed, or at least this version of it, shines. The night stages are mostly pretty fun and have a decent progression system and difficulty curve. The combat is a bit on the simple side and I wish there was more enemy variety, but the night stages are a fun time that let you explore just enough to make you feel like you're not totally railroaded.
The day stages, on the other hand, are kind of a mess. And that's funny, because I actually really like this iteration of the boost system, it's probably my favorite modern sonic mechanic (please tell me 2008 is still "modern") - but holy the levels are scant. There's literally less than ten of them, and the rest of the day stages are "missions" - snippets of the stage you've already done with (usually) a different objective like collecting rings or dodging obstacles. Near the end of the game you're given time attack missions which are "do the stage from start to finish again, with a timer and checkpoints that boost your time". It's such a miniscule amount of content to make up what is allegedly half the game! There are also some issues with collision in the late game especially on curved platforms, most notable in Shamar and Eggmanland's day stages.
You also have to do basically what amounts to a point-and-click adventure to unlock stages through a primitive menu interface. The graphics are nice but it's nothing special. At times you're literally told information or objectives you already know or is a bit removed from the game's plot ("go to Shamar", Professor Pickle says while we're already in Shamar) to where the plot feels a bit contrived. And that's okay because the plot is already pretty goofy, but it seems like at points the attention to detail is just missing.
I think this game is worth a play, I had fun, but the night content really is the standout in this entry in the Sonic series (which is weird for a Sonic game), and there are better beat 'em ups out there.
The day stages, on the other hand, are kind of a mess. And that's funny, because I actually really like this iteration of the boost system, it's probably my favorite modern sonic mechanic (please tell me 2008 is still "modern") - but holy the levels are scant. There's literally less than ten of them, and the rest of the day stages are "missions" - snippets of the stage you've already done with (usually) a different objective like collecting rings or dodging obstacles. Near the end of the game you're given time attack missions which are "do the stage from start to finish again, with a timer and checkpoints that boost your time". It's such a miniscule amount of content to make up what is allegedly half the game! There are also some issues with collision in the late game especially on curved platforms, most notable in Shamar and Eggmanland's day stages.
You also have to do basically what amounts to a point-and-click adventure to unlock stages through a primitive menu interface. The graphics are nice but it's nothing special. At times you're literally told information or objectives you already know or is a bit removed from the game's plot ("go to Shamar", Professor Pickle says while we're already in Shamar) to where the plot feels a bit contrived. And that's okay because the plot is already pretty goofy, but it seems like at points the attention to detail is just missing.
I think this game is worth a play, I had fun, but the night content really is the standout in this entry in the Sonic series (which is weird for a Sonic game), and there are better beat 'em ups out there.